DLSU Green Archers take down the Flying V Thunders in their first tune-up match

Eric Salamat throws up a three-pointer versus DLSU's Ben Mbala.

This appears in the Wednesday, July 27, 2016 edition of the Business Mirror.

DLSU Green Archers take down the Flying V Thunders in their first tune-up match

by rick olivares

The Thunders with its former pro players and recent graduates took an early 6-2 lead but La Salle quickly erased the lead with its full court press and superb three-point shooting. After five consecutive turnovers that saw La Salle convert from three-point range four times, the score was 14-6. The Green Archers looked to pull away but the Thunders’ Eric Salamat led a rally that saw them cut the deficit to six, 38-32, but five botched free throws and turnovers allowed the college squad to take the half, 62-51.

La Salle led by as much as 20 points, 96-76 following an Abu Tratter dunk, but the Thunders made one last run to notch the final count at 116-105.

“One month pa lang and we practice three times a week,” noted Thunders coach Aric Del Rosario. “And we missed Leo Avenido.”

The Thunders were supposed to compete in the Country-Wide Basketball League that was supposed to tip-off this coming August but with supposed television coveror ABS-CBN backing out, the team and the league is in disarray. Flying V team owner Raffy Villavicencio who also co-manages the Green Archers, made his way down to the former to congratulate them and instructed them to continue their efforts.

According to Del Rosario and team manager Joey Guillermo, management is looking for a suitable league to play whether it be the Philippine Commercial Basketball League, the Asean Basketball League, or the Developmental League. “Ngayon at least sabi ng boss tuloy tuloy na. Sana malaman na natin kung saan tayo.”

“Obviously, we didn’t have the fitness and chemistry that La Salle has,” noted Guillermo. “But it’s a good first tune-up match. We fought back but ran out of gas.”

Salamat paced the Thunders with 23 points while Ilad finished with a double double of 14 points and 14 rebounds.

The scoreline of the Flying V Thunders:

Eric Salamat 23

Oda Tampus 15

Brian Ilad 14

Sam Marata 13

Froilan Baguion 10

Luis Sinco 8

Gwyne Capacio 7

Mark Andaya 5

Jun Jun Cabatu 4

JR Ongteco 3

Mikey Cabahug 2

Richard Albo 1